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Father, son authors share their story of struggle with drug addiction

March 06, 2009

David and Nic Sheff, the father and son who have each authored books that have become New York Times bestsellers about Nic's drug and alcohol addiction, will be sharing their story at an upcoming public presentation March 18 by the Friends of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

In 2005, David Sheff, a well-known journalist and magazine editor, wrote an article for the New York Times Magazine, "My Addicted Son," which received the American Psychological Association's award for outstanding contribution to advancing the understanding of addiction.

Out of that piece grew David's powerful book, "Beautiful Boy," about his son's descent into drug addiction. Nic, now a recovering drug addict and alcoholic in his mid-20s, wrote his bestseller, "Tweak" about his battle with methamphetamines and struggle with recovery. His writing has been published in Newsweek, Nerve and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The two authors will be joined by three Semel Institute faculty members who are leading experts in the field of drug addiction and recovery: brain researcher Edythe London, psychologist Steven Shoptaw and substance-abuse programs director Richard Rawson.

The talk will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at De Neve Auditorium, 351 Charles E. Young Drive West. The event is free. To RSVP, e-mail Vicky Goodman or call her at (310) 825-8871.